Getting control of the BMW factory DME is a huge pain. With the F30 generation BMW upped their encryption and to this point nobody has cracked BMW's protection. What is one to do? Well, there are piggyback options but for those who want full control of their motor that will hardly do the trick. The Motec M182 standalone (takes the place of the factory ECU) is an option in these situations although at a pricey 4,552.00 Euros ($6200.00).

The F30 335i you see below has its N55 turbocharged and direct injected 3.0 liter inline-6 controlled by the Motec M182. You will also notice it is a stripped out race car. So how does the M182 help a street application? Well, it does not help you if you want to retain all of your OEM electronic systems.

However, a future answer for those who want to do turbo upgrades on the F30 335i and F32 435i may be relying on such an ECU run in conjunction with the factory DME. The Motec ECU in such a scenario would handle the engine management while the BMW engine computer would make sure all the factory electronics still play nice. This sort of dual ECU solution was employed on the E46 M3 early on with turbo kits and Motec ECU's are used in the high powered Lamborghini and Ferrari Underground Racing turbocharged street cars we all know and love.

This may be the route tuning takes as it is just now the factory computer on the over a decade old E46 M3 is decrypted to the point of allowing turbo kits tuned on the factory DME. With F30 encryption being even more difficult to crack does anyone really want to wait around for 10+ years (could be far less, could be more) for factory DME tuning to evolve to the point of supporting a turbo upgrade?

Fortunately companies like Motec continue to deliver engine control systems that can support modern engine management. It's up to the BMW aftermarket to figure out how to best integrate them.

Look at this dyno of M182 controlled N55 with upgraded Borg Warner turbocharger (stock injectors and fuel pumps) versus OEM DME controlled N55 with the factory turbocharger. This previews what the N55 is capable of with a turbo upgrade. Horsepower is 599.4 with torque at 629 pound-feet:

If no one can crack bmw's new ecu and this is the only option... The tuning scene for future bmw's is not looking good. I didn't realize the n55 on f series bmw's is uncrackable, I thought it was just the new m5/m6

If no one can crack bmw's new ecu and this is the only option... The tuning scene for future bmw's is not looking good. I didn't realize the n55 on f series bmw's is uncrackable, I thought it was just the new m5/m6

Sure, just be ready to give up ALL your comfort features or stick with a piggyback tune. Luckily the M3/M4 has a much stronger aftermarket following then a 335, so you've got BMW-specific tuners like Evolve, Active, Gintani + ESS (plus smaller agencies like MaxPSI + BPM) AND some more recent tuner brands like BMS, COBB, Vishnu, Switzer who'll probably look to capitalize on boosted BMW lineup.

I actually like the idea of a dual ECU setup because if you can afford it, it means that now you can use the latest and greatest Motec unit to run the engine, which is a huge help. And in addition, you lose nothing in terms of functionality for the rest of the car. Would be nice to crack the ECU and I hope it happens eventually - but this is not a bad stand-in apart from the cost.

I actually like the idea of a dual ECU setup because if you can afford it, it means that now you can use the latest and greatest Motec unit to run the engine, which is a huge help. And in addition, you lose nothing in terms of functionality for the rest of the car. Would be nice to crack the ECU and I hope it happens eventually - but this is not a bad stand-in apart from the cost.

Basically how every major tuner utilizing standalones (Motec, ProEFI, Syvecs, AEM Infinity, etc) market their product: keep all your OEM features while having the standalone strictly control engine related function & traction control (if you opt for that feature).

UGR does it in their cars, AMS + Switzer both allow you to upgrade from COBB/Stock DME to Syvecs in their GTR packages, and Undercover has done this for a wide variety of cars (Supras, GTR, Porsches, Turbo E46 M3s, etc). Some other popular vendors using standalones are BBi Autosport, D3 Performance, LMR, Dallas Performance, Boost Logic, Lab22, etc etc

If no one can crack bmw's new ecu and this is the only option... The tuning scene for future bmw's is not looking good. I didn't realize the n55 on f series bmw's is uncrackable, I thought it was just the new m5/m6

I'm sure cobb will get the job done eventually

This is all because of the new regulation for 2014.

Obama Bypasses Congress to Mandate Black Boxes for All Cars -- Beginning in '14
After a crash or air bag deploys, the EDR would collects data in the seconds before and during a crash, including: vehicle speed; whether the brake was activated in the moments before a crash; crash forces at the moment of impact; information about the state of the engine throttle; air bag deployment timing and air bag readiness prior to the crash and whether the vehicle occupant’s seat belt was buckled.

Recording data from your engine is law so manufacturers don't want you to mess with it, this is not only for BMW but for all cars.

All I have to say is MoTeC is the $#@!! I have an M130 on my seadoo and it hands down was the best thing I ever bought. The data logging and ability to control basically any parameter with a couple mouse clicks is out of this world. If I had a BMW, I would get this in a heartbeat. I don't see many 1 and 3 series owners springing for this though. Still cool

Basically how every major tuner utilizing standalones (Motec, ProEFI, Syvecs, AEM Infinity, etc) market their product: keep all your OEM features while having the standalone strictly control engine related function & traction control (if you opt for that feature).

UGR does it in their cars, AMS + Switzer both allow you to upgrade from COBB/Stock DME to Syvecs in their GTR packages, and Undercover has done this for a wide variety of cars (Supras, GTR, Porsches, Turbo E46 M3s, etc). Some other popular vendors using standalones are BBi Autosport, D3 Performance, LMR, Dallas Performance, Boost Logic, Lab22, etc etc

Right, exactly. If you can afford it, it's a nice way to go. I don't see it as a problem really. Between this and piggy-backs getting better and better all the time, I don't know that we necessarily have to worry too much about cracking the ECU per se anymore. Although I do hope it happens at some point.

Right, exactly. If you can afford it, it's a nice way to go. I don't see it as a problem really. Between this and piggy-backs getting better and better all the time, I don't know that we necessarily have to worry too much about cracking the ECU per se anymore. Although I do hope it happens at some point.

Well their are obvious problems to "tuning" strictly with piggybacks (specifically not being able to adjust the fueling & ignition values), but they're definitely a great starting point (especially until full flash tuning is unlocked) and "entry level mod" for people who aren't ready to spend ~$10k on a standalone EMS/install/tuning

With add on turbos and the like for a 335i with the N55 this is actually a good price worthy solution.. versus say the $20 odd grand it costs to add a blower and DP, water/meth etc with an e92 M3.... add in some suspension bits and pieces and the same cost on a 335 gets you a chepaer M3 solution

With add on turbos and the like for a 335i with the N55 this is actually a good price worthy solution.. versus say the $20 odd grand it costs to add a blower and DP, water/meth etc with an e92 M3.... add in some suspension bits and pieces and the same cost on a 335 gets you a chepaer M3 solution

amirite or amirite

It's a solution in the sense of it will work and the engine will have flawless control from a superior ECU but I don't know how it helps street cars.